Medicine envelope preparation system

ABSTRACT

A medicine envelope preparation system for automatically, quickly preparing medicine envelopes having prints of information about medicines contained in the medicine envelopes in response to the simple operation of inputting information about the medicines shown on a prescription, for example. The system includes a storage device whish stores various information about medicines as electronic data; an input device for inputting signals to extract part of the information; a grouping program for grouping the extracted part of information into groups each for a single medicine envelope according to predetermined grouping parameters; and an envelope printer for printing visual data corresponding to each of the groups of the extracted part of information on a single medicine envelope.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a system for fabricating a medicine envelopefor containing a medicine given by a hospitals or pharmacy according toa medical prescription, especially having thereon written informationabout the contained medicine.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional medicine envelopes containing medicines given by hospitalsor pharmacies according to medical prescriptions had very simpleinformation such as types of medicines, and durations of use of themedicines, and ways of medicines, which is written directly on theenvelopes or written on seals stuck onto the envelopes. With theseenvelopes, however, information given to patients about the medicineswas insufficient, and there was the possibility of misleading patientsto take the medicines erroneously.

As a countermeasure of this problem, Japanese Utility Model PublicationNo. 3030269 discloses a medicine envelope having a print of names ofprescribed medicines, information about their effects, their pictures,time for taking the medicines and their doses.

Since the envelope disclosed in the above publication demonstrates muchmore information about the contained medicines, the patient can readilyunderstand effects of the medicines and can take the medicines properlywithout misunderstanding the time and dose of each medicine.Additionally, since information about the medicines is directly printedon the envelope, pharmacists can prepare medicines for individualpatients more easily and quickly.

The existing envelope proposed in the above publication, however, has aprint of the column for the patient's name, column for instructionsabout ways of potion of the medicines, column for indicating names andinformation of the medicines, column for demonstrating pictures of themedicines, and column for indicating the time for taking the medicinesand their doses, and required statements are shown in these columns.

Although the above publication does not describe details about ways ofprinting, its basic concept is to prepare a computerized pattern havingvarious columns, install it into a general-purpose computer (such aspersonal computer) or a word processor and visually display it, theninput necessary statements according to the prescription through the keyboard or from a storage of the computer, and print the input data onto asurface of an envelope with a printer.

Therefore, an operator has to input pieces of information from theprescription into predetermined columns, individually, while watchingthe display, and this mode of input operation requires much time andlabor.

Especially, for the purpose of preventing misuse of medicines, differentmedicine envelopes have to be used for different groups of medicineswhich are classified according to grouping parameters like names ofdoctors who make the prescriptions, types of medicines (internal use,temporary use, external use), duration of use of medicines, ways ofpotion, and so forth.

Therefore, the operator has to input information about medicines andothers shown on the prescription dividing it into one for an envelopeand the other for another envelope. This mode of operation is muchcomplicated and liable to invite errors, and hence needs a later job ofconfirmation.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system capableof quickly and easily fabricating a medicine envelope with an accurateprint of various information about medicines.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A medicine envelope preparation system according to the inventioncomprises: a storage device whish stores various information aboutmedicines as electronic data; an input device for inputting signals toextract part of the information; a grouping program for grouping theextracted part of information into groups each for a single medicineenvelope according to predetermined grouping parameters; and an envelopeprinter for printing visual data corresponding to each of the groups ofthe extracted part of information on a single medicine envelope.

In the medicine envelope preparation system according to the invention,distinction about types of medicines is used as one of the groupingparameters, and the envelope printer may be a color printer which canprint all or part of the printed matters on medicine envelopes indifferent colors such that the color on envelopes for one of the groupsbe different from the colors on envelopes for the others groups. In thismanner, envelopes for different groups can be distinguished more easily,and this contributes to preventing erroneous use of the medicines and atthe same time enabling quick and precise preparation of the medicinesfor individual patients.

The medicine envelope preparation system according to the invention mayfurther comprise an additional printer for printing a sheet ofinstructions about medicines which are contained in the extracted partof information. In this case, a medicine instruction sheet for givinginstructions about medicines contained in a medicine envelope can beprinted simultaneously with the printing of the envelope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram combining a sketch of an embodiment of the inventionand a corresponding block circuit diagram;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an exemplary medicine sheet which isprinted according to the same embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show front views of medicine envelopes prepared bythe embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of grouping information accordingto grouping parameters.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are explained below in detail withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an envelope preparation system according to a preferredembodiment of the invention. Major components of the system are ageneral-purpose computer 1, an envelope printer 2 connected to thegeneral-purpose computer 1 and capable of color printing, an instructionsheet printer 3 connected to the computer 1, and a pharmaceutical chargecalculating computer as an input device 4 which is connected to thecomputer 1.

The general-purpose computer 1 has a storage device (fixed magneticdisc) 5 which electronically stores a plurality of units of informationeach including information about a single medicine together with a colorimage data of the outer aspect of the medicine. The general-purposecomputer 1 further includes a central processing unit (CPU) 6, mainstorage device (RAM) 7 and grouping program 8. Additionally, connectedto an input circuit 12 are a key board 9, disc device 10, image intakedevice 11 such as digital camera, video camera or scanner, and inputdevice 4, respectively.

Connected to an output circuit 13 of the general-purpose computer 1 arethe envelope printer 2 and the instruction sheet printer 3.

To actually use the above-explained medicine envelope preparationsystem, units of information each including the name of a medicine,effects of the medicine, way of its potion, precautions on the medicine,and so forth, are previously stored together with a color image of theouter aspect of the medicine in the storage device (fixed magnetic disc)5 in form of an electronic data.

Although such information may be input by using the key board 9, discdevice 10 and image intake device 11, it is recommended to use data-basesoftware previously installed in the storage device (fixed magneticdisc) 5. Considering that a large quantity of various kinds ofinformation will be required and most of the information can be commonlyused in many hospitals and pharmacies, it will be advantageous toacquire and store such information in the storage device (fixed magneticdisc) 5 from a floppy disc or CD-ROM storing that information throughthe disc device 10. In this manner, operators will be able to accomplishtheir operations for preparation of medicine envelopes quickly andeasily.

Under the condition, when the name of the doctor, name of the medicine,etc. shown on a prescription are input to a pharmaceutical chargecalculating computer (input device) 4 in a pharmacy, for example,selection signals for selecting necessary data corresponding to theinput items from the information stored in storage device (fixedmagnetic disc) 5 are sent from an output circuit (not shown) of theinput device 4 to the input circuit 12.

In response to the selection signals entered into the input circuit 12,the central processing unit (CPU) 6 selects requested data from theinformation stored in the storage device (fixed disc) 5, and issuescorresponding output signals.

Certain part of the output signals from CPU 6 is sent directly to theoutput circuit 13, and the instruction sheet printer 4 connected to theoutput circuit 13 prints the selected information, and outputs apharmaceutical instruction sheet 14 (see FIG. 2).

All or part of the output signals from CPU 6 is sent to the outputcircuit 13 via the grouping program 8 and classified thereby into groupsfor respective envelopes. Then, these different groups of informationare printed by the envelope printer 2 on different envelopes 15, 16, 17as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, for example.

Next explained is grouping or classification by the grouping program 8in greater detail.

FIG. 4 shows an example of grouping or classification by the groupingprogram 8 used in the invention.

At the first step of grouping by the grouping program 8, Data No. 1through Data No. 9 which are information about medicines and inputthrough the input device 4 on the basis of the prescription made for acertain patient on a day or simultaneously, are sorted by using groupingparameters, i.e. names of doctors, types of medicines, ways of potionand names of medicines.

In this example, this sorting is conducted in the order of names ofdoctors, types of medicines, ways of potion and names of medicines.However, the sorting order may be modified appropriately.

After that, with reference to FIG. 4, Data No. 1 through Data No. 9 arechecked in contents of grouping parameters, and sorted into groups eachof an amount that can be printed on one medicine envelope. Individualgroups of sorted data are sent as materials to be printed on respectivepages to the output circuit 13 shown in FIG. 1, and printed onrespective medicine envelopes by the envelope printer 2.

That is, Data No. 1 and Data No. 2 in FIG. 4 are common in contents ofall grouping parameters except the names of medicines, and are treatedas materials to be printed on a common medicine envelope. In contrast,Data No. 1 is different from Data No. 1 and Data No. 2 in ways of potionas one of the grouping parameters. Therefore, Data No. 3 is outputseparately from Data No. 1 and Data No. 2 so as to be printed on page 2under the printing conditions.

In this manner, as a result of grouping of these Data No. 1 through DataNo. 9, they are printed on 6 pages, i.e., six medicine envelopes,separately.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a color printer is used asthe envelope printer 2. Therefore, when printing the classified data onmedicine envelopes, different envelopes which are different at least inthe portion of statement about types of medicines can be printed withdifferent colors, using black for internal use, yellow-green fortemporary use and red for external use, for example, to enable easierdistinction of types of medicines with colors.

As explained above, according to the preferred embodiment of theinvention, by the easy operation of inputting information aboutmedicines written on a prescription through the input device which alsofunctions as a pharmaceutical charge calculator, it is possible toautomatically select necessary part of information about medicinesincluding pictures of outer aspects of the medicines from informationstored in the storage device 5, and automatically accomplish not onlycalculation of pharmaceutical charges but also preparation ofinstruction sheets about the medicines and necessary medicine envelopes.

Particularly, since medicine envelopes can be printed in differentcolors at least at the portion of statement of types of medicines toenable distinction with colors, patients can distinguish ways of potionat a glance, and are not misled to erroneous use of the medicines.

Additionally, the use of colors for distinguishing types of medicines,pharmacies can stock medicines by an appropriate mode of distinctionamong different types of medicines by colors so that their operators canquickly and easily select and bag requested medicines by using theenvelopes.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been explained asautomatically coloring statements about types of medicines in differentcolors to enable easy and clear distinction of types of medicines onrespective medicine envelopes, any other portion on the envelopes,including lines of tables for information about medicines in FIGS. 3Athrough 3C, can be printed in different colors for distinction amongdifferent envelopes for different types of medicines. It is alsopossible to color the envelopes themselves in different colors.

Further, the preferred embodiment of the invention has been explained asprinting on a common page, i.e. common medicine envelope, all of theinformation about medicines in a common group, which are common ingrouping parameters. However, if the information for a single commongroup is too much to be printed on a single envelope, part of theinformation beyond one page may be printed on the next medicineenvelope.

As described above, the medicine preparation system according to theinvention can automatically and quickly prepare medicine envelopes withvarious information about medicines by an easy operation of inputtingdata about medicines and other items shown on a prescription, andoperators can efficiently prepare prescribed medicines for patients.

Additionally, by using different colors for printed items amongdifferent envelopes distinguished by types of medicines, it is possibleto reliably prevent erroneous use of medicines and enable more efficientand quick preparation of medicines for individual patients by using theenvelopes with color prints.

Furthermore, when the system is configured to simultaneously preparesheets representing instructions about medicines, no other device isneeded for preparing such sheets, and the system greatly improves theefficiency of operation in pharmacies, and is advantageous from theeconomical viewpoint as well.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The medicine envelope preparation system according to the invention isuseful for quick preparation of envelopes with printed information aboutmedicines contained therein and for improvement of efficiency inpreparation of medicines in accordance with prescriptions in hospitalsand pharmacies. It enables simultaneous preparation of medicineenvelopes and instruction sheets about the medicines, and is suitablefor greater efficiency of pharmaceutical operations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medicine envelope preparation system,comprising: a storage device which stores various information aboutmedicines as electronic data; an input device for inputting signals toextract part of said information; a grouping program which usespredetermined grouping parameters to group said extracted part of saidinformation into a plurality of groups which each correspond to arespective one of a plurality of medicine envelopes; and an envelopeprinter for printing respective visual data on respective saidenvelopes, said visual data on each said envelope corresponding to arespective said group; wherein distinction about types of use ofmedicines is used as one of said grouping parameters, and said envelopeprinter is a color printer which can print all or part of said visualdata for respective said groups on respective said medicine envelopes inrespective different colors, such that the color on one of saidenvelopes for selected said visual data for one of said groups isrepresentative of a first said type of use, and the color on another ofsaid envelopes for selected said visual data for another of said groupsis representative of a second said type of use different from said firsttype of use.
 2. The medicine envelope preparation system according toclaim 1 further comprising a further printer for printing a sheet ofinstructions about medicines which are contained in said extracted partof information.
 3. The medicine envelope preparation system according toclaim 1, wherein said first and second types of use are each one ofinternal use, external use, and temporary use.
 4. The medicine envelopepreparation system according to claim 1, wherein said printerrespectively uses black, red, and yellow-green for respective envelopeswhich respectively correspond to internal use, external use, andtemporary use.
 5. The medicine envelope preparation system according toclaim 1, further comprising a further printer for printing a sheet ofinstructions about medicines which are contained in said extracted partof said information.